Fan talk: Richt’s problem isn’t discipline or risky recruiting, it’s perception (Updated)
Was it "risky" for UGA to recruit Isaiah Crowell? (Associated Press)
So, SEC Media Days have come and gone, Mark Richt will be making his annual visit to the Cobb Galleria Monday, and season tickets will go into the mail the second week of August. Now, it’s starting to feel like football season! So let’s check the Junkyard Mail. …
EarthDawg writes: Bill, what do you think of these critics who blame Mark Richt’s recruiting for the disciplinary problems at Georgia, saying he’s taken too many risks and ignored “red flags” with players like Isaiah Crowell. They act like Richt is cruising reform schools looking for junior hoodlums. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Crowell recruited by just about every major football program in the country? Aside from a reputation for taking himself out of the game a lot in high school, I don’t recall any red flags raised in advance about Crowell.
You’re right. Alabama, Florida, Southern Cal, Auburn and other schools offered a scholarship to Crowell, a consensus five-star prospect, and gladly would have enrolled him, yet you don’t see anyone questioning Nick Saban’s recruiting judgment in going after him. “We’re not recruiting bad kids,” Richt said this week. “We’re competing for the same guys everybody else is in the league.”
Looking at the disciplinary problems that have cropped up at UGA in the past year and concluding that Georgia’s head coach must need to change the sort of kids he recruits — especially without explaining what sort of players you would go after instead of the ones every school wants — is a facile argument that doesn’t take into account the realities and complexities of modern-day college football recruiting. As Richt reminded reporters, coaches are limited in the amount of contact they can have during recruiting and do the best they can to root out character flaws in advance. But they’re not able to peer into the future and see how an 18-year-old will react to the freedoms and temptations that come with attending a large university in a hard-partying town like Athens — particularly kids who’ve gotten the star treatment and been coddled and enabled throughout high school to the point that many don’t think everyday rules apply to them or don’t expect to be held accountable.
As for comparing Georgia’s situation with other schools, you have to factor in that not only does UGA have one of the strictest policies in the country for recreational drug use — with the quickest and stiffest penalties — but Georgia players also happen to reside in one of the most closely policed college towns around.
And once the players run afoul of the rules, Richt tends to come down on them harder than many other coaches. Do you really think Stephen Garcia would have lasted through five suspensions at UGA? And how many coaches would kick a quarterback off the team who’s good enough to become the starter at a school in the same conference — and not put any restrictions on where the player could go? Zach Mettenberger wound up at LSU, where first drug offenses rate no suspension and where last year three players (including the Honey Badger) missed just one game after apparently failing at least a second drug test.
Richt correctly noted this week that the playing field isn’t level in the SEC when it comes to drug policies or discipline. “Some people have policies that bring certain things to light and some people don’t,” he said. “To say these issues aren’t happening around the country [isn’t] really realistic.” Not only did Les Miles sign Mettenberger after he was kicked off Richt’s team, but last season Jordan Jefferson missed four games for LSU after being involved in a bar fight. Should Miles rethink his risky recruiting?
Certainly, there’ve also been problems at Auburn, where four players were kicked off the team for being charged in an armed robbery. And yet it’s Richt who carries this reputation for having discipline problems, not Gene Chizik.
It’s not that Richt has a discipline problem or a recruiting problem as much as he has a perception or publicity problem. UGA players get called out more because of tougher policies and get punished more severely. Perhaps the school’s publicists should try flipping the discussion by emphasizing the higher standards to which the Bulldogs are held and making that the topic of national and regional sports talk rather than the numbers of players who run afoul of the rules.
Richard Samuel is a prime example of an unselfish player. (Associated Press)
Matt Cafaro writes: Bill, I don’t know about you, but Richard Samuel is finding his way up my list of favorite Dawgs of all time for his unselfish devotion to his teammates and our Alma Mater. Hines Ward was another Dawg in a very similar situation, and he reacted the same way, with the same attitude: “Put me anywhere on the field, and I’ll play as hard as I can.” I think special attention needs to be paid to Samuel this year by Bulldog Nation for his willingness to sacrifice playing time (to acclimate himself to LB again) and a whole redshirt year in order to do his part to make the Dawgs a better, deeper team. Maybe extra cheers whenever he gets in a game or a standing ovation on Senior Day at the end of the year, or perhaps some attention from the AJC. Something, anything that brings credit to his team-first ideals. I know most of us like to think that ALL the Dawgs should feel and do as guys like Hines and Richard do, but the sad reality is, that just isn’t the case, as we’ve seen MANY selfish, me-first players come and go in Athens (Isaiah Crowell just the latest example).
Well said. I don’t believe Samuel’s unselfish attitude has gone unnoticed by Georgia fans and those who cover UGA, but a bit of extra recognition for his refreshing devotion to doing whatever the team needs certainly is deserved. I know a lot of fans were heartsick when Samuel’s terrific game against the Gators last year ended in injury, and certainly those of us in attendance at G-Day noticed the boost he provided when put in at tailback in the second half. Here’s hoping he gets the senior season he deserves. If he does, it can only be to Georgia’s benefit.
Andrew Smith writes: Hey Bill, Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel seems to be building up the SEC season opener atmosphere. Given UGA’s tendency to take a few games to “warm up” for the season do you see this game being closer than when both teams are in late-season form? Does the fact that the Mizzou QB has only been throwing a few days after surgery now play a factor in your decision?
It’s too early to know what sort of shape QB James Franklin will be in come Sept. 8. If he’s not back 100 percent at that point, it might balance out somewhat the Georgia defense missing however many starters. But to answer the first part of your question, yes, the slow starts Georgia teams have gotten off to in recent seasons is a major concern. If the Dogs’ offense shows up against Mizzou looking as not-ready-for-prime-time it did in the Dome last year against Boise State, it could be a long night for those in red and black.
Art Finley writes: Bill, Here are a couple of recent headlines . . .
May 31, 2012: The football games scheduled for 2020 and 2021 between Georgia and Ohio State have been called off. Ohio State recently informed UGA that it is exercising its right to cancel the games, which had been set up in a memorandum of understanding between the schools in December 2010. “They couldn’t make it happen due to the Pac 12-Big 10 football schedule deal,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Thursday, referring to a recent agreement between those conferences for a series of regular-season matchups beginning in 2017.
July 13, 2012: “We are disappointed to announce today that the Big Ten/Pac-12 strategic collaboration announced jointly in December 2011 unfortunately will not be consummated,” Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said in a statement.
Do you think there is any chance that AD McGarity will contact Ohio State about reinstating the memo of understanding for Ohio State and UGA to play?
It depends on how much strength of schedule ends up figuring in selections for the new four-team playoff. If that really does wind up being a determining factor, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Georgia and OSU take another stab at scheduling a home-and-home. I’d certainly rather pay to see the Dogs play the Buckeyes than Florida Atlantic or North Texas, wouldn’t you?
UPDATE: Speaking to reporters prior to Monday’s UGA Day, Greg McGarity said that he plans on calling Ohio State to see about renewing the deal.
I’ll answer more Junkyard Mail next week, so if you have something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg, send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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197 comments Add your comment
last
July 21st, 2012
10:56 pm
last
ATLNative
July 21st, 2012
10:58 pm
Yes, the UGA publicists need to get in gear and CMR needs to fire up more, mess that hair up and throw some headphones a! GATA Dawgs…
Big Enos Burdette
July 21st, 2012
11:07 pm
It’s hard to say…
chazzo
July 21st, 2012
11:24 pm
I am not an anti-drug hardliner, but it has always seemed odd to me that institutions can implement rules that condone illegal activities. It seems like a legal grey area to say the least.
jocrazy
July 21st, 2012
11:36 pm
please dont forget greens back up and former falcon a great dawg
JaxDawg05
July 21st, 2012
11:42 pm
Bill, most of the “perception” problems you cite come from Jeff, Mark, Michael and Raybun the writers just down the tab from you on this very website. So……
kingdaddy
July 21st, 2012
11:47 pm
Great reading Bill. Many of the people criticizing Coach Richt and the Dawgs aren’t even UGA fans. BTW, Richard Samuel is one of my all time favorites and I can’t wait to see him tote the rock in 12…
Rincon dawg
July 22nd, 2012
12:04 am
Bill you are just making excuses for coach richt. This was one of the reasons Donnan was run out of town. Yes other programs have their issues and deal with it in their way but this is a problem that has been here long enough for our university.
RED DOG 77
July 22nd, 2012
12:57 am
Georgia doesn’t have a problem cotroling our players, nor do we have some sort of “risky” issue in whom we recruit………………….No! discipline is not the problem, and anyone saying it’s “perception” need only look around other programs with the same standards…………………Wake the hell-up people, do you care about “perception”……………..or……….”Reality”?…………The University of Georgia football program is just fine, just watch the games this year!!! you will see……………RED
dbc
July 22nd, 2012
1:56 am
Yes, yes, and yes to Richard Samuel being a DGD. He is the poster boy for TEAM Player. Richard will go far in life, without a doubt. And he will also be one of the most beloved Dawgs ever. I hope his last year pays off for all his hard work. Please UGA fans, let Richard feel the love this season…
boykin
July 22nd, 2012
1:59 am
Coach recruits all the studs all teams recruit. Not his fault some are THUGS brandishing Arms and a pot-smelling car!
dbc
July 22nd, 2012
2:00 am
Maybe this is old news, but here is an interesting tidbit from College Football News:
It has now come from three sources within Georgia football that the team will likely dress every suspended (or thought to be suspended) player for the Missouri game in Week Two, except for cornerback Sanders Commings. There’s no official confirmation from Georgia other than from Mark Richt himself, who on Thursday morning said with a smile, “I know what’s going to happen … but I’m not telling you.”
boykin
July 22nd, 2012
2:08 am
Your point, dbc? We need to go into Missouri and kick assssss, yes or no…to establish ourselves?
dbc
July 22nd, 2012
2:17 am
I would expect UGA to kick it, either with them, or without them. Just reporting what I read…
ToccoaDawg
July 22nd, 2012
2:30 am
I can’t wait until its TIME FOR THE BIG DAWGS TO EAT. GATA DAWGS. I’m not worried about our D when we play Mizzou. I have faith Coach Grantham will have them ready. Bobo’s Offense is what I’m more worried about.
Top Row Dawg
July 22nd, 2012
4:00 am
A National Championship would help the perception of Georgia.
Aaron “The rare one” Murray
Aaron “Airen” Murray
Paddy
July 22nd, 2012
6:47 am
Bill…….you and many fans are looking at this problem and the analysis and conclusions miss the mark. We all know, players, coaches, administators and fans, that the local police are always on high alert and that UGA has a tough anti-drug policy. The logical conclusion is with all this information and great communication the incidence of crime and rules infractions should be reducing not increasing. The flaws are not the policy or the policy enforcers. When people get educated and trained problems go down not up. Poilcy and rules don’t make mistakes, people do. CMR, do more research before you offer that scholly, please!
Penny Laine
July 22nd, 2012
6:53 am
Richt lied.
Northgafan
July 22nd, 2012
6:55 am
Running back coach Burn’s for Bama came back from a game late in the season, and not sure who he talked to but told Saban we can’t take this kid. (Crowell)
Freddo
July 22nd, 2012
7:01 am
“We’re not recruiting bad kids,” Richt said this week.
————————————————————-
The loud noise you just heard was my BS detector exploding.
Freddo
July 22nd, 2012
7:08 am
It has now come from three sources within Georgia football that the team will likely dress every suspended (or thought to be suspended) player for the Missouri game in Week Two, except for cornerback Sanders Commings.
That’s hardly a secret. It’s why Richt is being so mum about it. He doesn’t want to take the heat from his decision to play these thugs. Expect an announcement a few hours before the game.
Remember, there’s a reason why UGA is known as Ths Cesspool of the South.
AAAAA Athens Bail Bonds R Us
July 22nd, 2012
7:29 am
Any more dawg players arrested today?
Hobnail Boot
July 22nd, 2012
7:36 am
Is Rambo and Ogletree suspended for the first game for sure? I have not heard (for sure) if it going to happen.
RHall55
July 22nd, 2012
7:45 am
Soon let the play on the field determine the fate of conservative play calling….mismanagement of roster depth….S&C still unproven….lack of recruiting on OL…..poor handling of player welfare….and getting passed over by many of the top in-state players….C’mon Man!!!
Hmmmmmmm
July 22nd, 2012
8:10 am
Perception you say….. Well, it’s because this coach has little or NO discipline. This makes the perception reality.. It’s really not that hard… He had NO discipline at FSU, and UGA is now an extension of his total lack of discipline. The players just run over this coach, and year after year it shows…
just a fan
July 22nd, 2012
8:19 am
If anyone is interested in buying UGA season tickets contact me by email fantasynfl3100@yahoo.com
I was recently transferred to Tampa Fl and will be unable to use my tickets
zzggyy
July 22nd, 2012
8:23 am
It’s good to see a rational discussion of the (discipline) situation as opposed to the sensationalist crap that Schultz spit out yesterday.
Ashland dawg
July 22nd, 2012
8:35 am
Seems to me Richt is a more strict disciplinarian than most of his peers. Seems like the AJC press is more interested in finding faults with Richt than giving him credit for his many virtues. In the area where I live, Marshall and Ohio State have as many or more player issues, but the press doesn’t dwell on them.
If there is a problem with players’ character in general, that is more of a reflection of what is happening in society and the “win and I don’t care how you do it” attitude of most college football fans. Money corrupts, and it’s happening in college football.
ole dawg
July 22nd, 2012
8:35 am
@Hmmm… let’s see, we’re talking about players being suspended (or disciplined)and you say Coach Richt has no discipline! Now that is funny.
Sammy Watkins at Clemson is busted for weed and pills and considering Dabo’s latest comments it seems certain that Watkins will not miss the Auburn game. That brethren is no discipline!
Jacket99
July 22nd, 2012
8:37 am
The matchup between UGA and tOSU would be interesting. Like I’ve said many times, scheduling cupcakes is a disservice to the fans and the players alike. Who is going to get excited about playing Buffalo or Presbyterian?
Alphare
July 22nd, 2012
8:37 am
I’d agree LSU is winner without honor. Les started Jefferson in place of Lee is sickening while Jefferson performed miserably in the NC game. They deserve their loss.
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
8:52 am
@Freddo
Are there any Dawgs who have gotten in trouble recently that your school didn’t offer a scholarship?
Moobs Johnson
July 22nd, 2012
8:54 am
I guess there was a perception problem at FSU also during Bowden’s time? Richt learned from one of the best, his players are as undisciplined off of the field as they are on the field.
50 arrests in four years
July 22nd, 2012
9:01 am
It’s not just the perception – Richt and the entire team are a wretched abomination and embarrassment to every citizen of this state.
aww, it's not mark richt's fault
July 22nd, 2012
9:14 am
poor mark richt.
Crowell CHOSE UGA over Alabama, SC, etc. So there had to be something that caused IC (and these other thugs) to choose UGA. For those of you who do not understand psychology, let me explain something.
Most of these “troubled” kids are “troubled” because they have low self-esteem. To protect their low self esteem they have to put up a front of being tough…or gangstah. That gives them the feedback they need from their “homies” that they need. They have to create the illusion that they are the alpha dog….when in reality, they have no business at the head of the pack.
To truly help these folks, you have to break them and create a new paridigm. Take a look at Mike Vick. Even though he was an NFL QB…he still had to hang with his crowd. What happened to him?
Someone who is like this IS NOT going to choose to enter into a situation where their self esteem or image will be challenged. They will choose a situation where they think they can manipulate the system to get what they want.
That type of environment does not exist at Alabama.
That type of environment exists at UGA.
poor mark richt.
thank god for greg mcgarity or IC and others would still be hanging around our program. he keeps the gun at richt’s head….
Saint Mark Richt
July 22nd, 2012
9:28 am
I confess, I’m a dirtbag. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep my bloated paychecks coming in.
If you don’t like it, that’s just too bad.
RomeDawg
July 22nd, 2012
9:39 am
All of the other coaches you mentioned have won a national title therefore making people less inclined to question their judgment about players character.
Paddy
July 22nd, 2012
9:55 am
perception may enter into the equation but it is WAY down the list. In my experience, good folks never seem to deal with police or face disipline of any kind that equates to furher harsh punishment. Good people get into that grey area also. But they get back on track real fast and never look back. All fans can live with that behavior. It is the people that always live in that grey zone that never get the memo.
Ringleader
July 22nd, 2012
10:02 am
Bill, You are a homer, and so am I.
Just when do you realize perception is a Fact.
Why do the Dogs take Sunday off, no Sunday practice ever. The assistant coaches come in at 2pm on Sunday to review film
And, no scrimmage ever between the No 1 offense and No 1 defense, no bloody Tuesday ever,
McGarity has killed the schedule, replacing Louisville with Buffalo, etc., solely because of his despise for Charlie Strong. No other reason, wait and see the empty seats,
At least we are not Penn State.
George
July 22nd, 2012
10:07 am
This is one of the most pathetic Articles you have ever written. Trying to blame it on tough policies and the police??????? Are you really that nieve. Then like always you try to bring up other schools like you always try to do to deflect the enormous problems in Athens. You bring up aubrun? Really? The armed robbers were of course a huge incident but the HUGE difference is this was an externally isolated incident unlike the decade long recurring problems in Athens. Comparing the two is nonsense. Not to mention mike dyer was kicked off the team after failing ONE drug test. Why? Because the coaches rightfully so noticed he was a bad apple and was bad for the team. Yes uga has a culture problem on the football team but to try to start blaming it on everything but what is actually the problem, is truly pathetic and actually quite comical.
UGADawg83
July 22nd, 2012
10:27 am
Bill,
I often criticize you on this blog but you are spot on with your analysis of the discipline situation at UGA. There needs to be less gotcha justice by the Athens PD along with an understanding that tighter rules bring more violations. I do worry however, that the tighter rules do not do more to detur bad behavior.
kmarshall 4
July 22nd, 2012
10:32 am
i like the scheduling you can`t play great teams every week you will to beat up playing in the sec is hard enough when your healthy. to those fans that don`t want to watch the buffalo game keep your arse at home we do not need ya go dawgs gata!!!!!!!
bubba4dawgs
July 22nd, 2012
10:35 am
Perhaps more time can be spent with the high school coaches who groom these players and even do a background investigation to determine any trouble they have been in. It seems epidemic at UGA but again perhaps UGA is doing what they are supposed to do and not putting up with misbehavior. It seems evident this is the case since players like Mettenberger winds up at LSU and I just notice another player, I believe Bonner is his name who will be playing at Tennessee. CMR and UGA is doing it right and should be commended for it!!
Froggy The Gremlin
July 22nd, 2012
10:36 am
Actually Ringleader, you ARE the Penn State of the South.
kmarshall 4
July 22nd, 2012
10:39 am
zach witchett just signed with ole miss we took his scholarship offer back when he got in trouble in high school.
kmarshall 4
July 22nd, 2012
10:41 am
disagree froggy with all those pretty things in red sundreeses no need to mess with little boys!!!!
@rincondawg
July 22nd, 2012
10:47 am
Donnan was let go for many reasons , but the main one was losing to tech.
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
10:47 am
Here is the bottom line. I once argued on here to cut football budgets, stop recruiting and only use the students enrolled at the institution, and to require a 3.0 gpa.
As you might guess, it was like wearing a bacon suit into a pack of pit bulls.
The point: If Richt only recruits good students who are well-behaved, UGA’s record will look more like Vanderbilt’s than Alabama’s. All of these coaches are recruiting the same players. All of these schools have players failing drug tests. Bear Bryant once suggested that he would recruit a “whiskey drinking skirt chaser” over a good student every time.
Richt lies to you every day
July 22nd, 2012
10:55 am
Richt is a liar.
WE all DO RECRUIT the same kids
July 22nd, 2012
10:55 am
If a tree falls in the forest, and no one hears it ……………. did it really fall? In other words, if we do arrest kids in Athens for such, and it hits the wire and the net, it is all over the universe. Everyone “hears about it”. In other football towns across the USA, and in the SEC, it is not that way. Kids will be taken to the football coach or maybe the Head Coach, on the first several infractions and that is the way that it is.
All SEC schools basically recruit the same kids. Athens is essentially metro Atlanta. Compare Tuscaloosa or Knoxville or even Columbia or Gainesville or Auburn or Starkville or Oxford to this. The city of Atl is a NEWS MECCA, not Tuscaloosa, near sad old Birmingham.
Besides, it is the kid that decides to act dumb.
50 arrests in four years
July 22nd, 2012
10:57 am
“Richt and McQuackity will not tell anyone who will be suspended and punished for the 2012 season other than commings, odd to say the least.”
★★★★★★
Yes, it is rather odd. Obviously, Richt is hoping everything will die down, then before the first game, he can slip in all the guys with the DUIs, failed drug tests, and everything else without anyone noticing.
Sorry, Richt, we’ll continue asking you the embarrassing questions that you won’t answer, you liar.
Donnan was NOT coachable gang
July 22nd, 2012
11:00 am
Jim Donnan was not the kind of guy that could be coached up in his PUBLIC demeanor by Dr. Adams or anyone close to him in an advisory capacity. He was bull headed and was caustic and curt with interviewers, fans AND CONTRIBUTORS and he argued constantly with Dr Adams and even Vince Dooley.
Losing to GT three years in a row was REASON ENOUGH to get him canned but his overall comportment with the UGA power structure got him gone.
Go Dogs
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
11:02 am
Donnan didn’t just lose to Tech. He lost to Tech three years in a row, and he lost to SC, UF, AU, and GT in a season that he more or less promised a shot at a national championship.
While it is an unsubstantiated rumor, it seems plausible that under Donnan’s leadership, the Dawgs were mired with drug and gambling issues. How many players did he suspend or expel?
The one thing Donnan really did right is his big victory against the Spurrier.
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
11:43 am
@50 arrests in…….
At least we don’t obstruct NCAA investigations, lose our conference championship, have coaches accused of assault………
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
11:44 am
Bill,
Why don’t you do a story about all the readers outside of the UGA program who post negative after negative about all of the coaches and anything and everything to do with the Dawgs. So many people criticize UGA fir not winning an NC. They’re criticized for trying to win at all cost. Criticized for being thugs, then for CMR being too good. Criticized for no discipline, and then too much discipline. There is nothing the outsiders won’t complain about. If they can’t think of something, they make it up. They don’t like UGA anyway and the AJC has become their forum to vent against this University. When a fan is discontent, that is reason for alarm. When another schools fans complain non-stop, you have to wonder if you haven’t touched a nerve. I think McGarity &Richt must be on the right track. The negative comments seem to come from outsiders and pseudo-fans. Personally, I don’t care what they think. Their opinion means less than nothing. Certain Fla., S.C., Bama & GT posters only have negative and cruel things to say with the sole intention of slandering UGA..NO UGA FAN SHOULD WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY POST OR THINK. THEIR OPINION IS A JOKE.
These pathetic trolls have flooded the AJC/SPORTS BLOG with garbage and disrespect. UGA doesn’t do this to their blogs Bill, why must we read their desperate attempts to slam UGA daily??? Is it really just about blog hits???
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
11:48 am
I didn’t name names. They know who they are and I expect to hear from them shortly, lol…
Paddy
July 22nd, 2012
11:55 am
George……well said!!!!!!!!!!!!
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
11:58 am
Kingdaddy,
You are right on!!!
SSIgator
July 22nd, 2012
12:08 pm
Perception? Let’s see:
Richt at the U of Miami in the 80’s – The womb of thug culture
Richt at FSU in the 90’s – Taking thug usage to a whole new level
Richt currently at UGA – The thug behavior is well documented
Connect the dots people. It’s not hard. – Perception is Reality
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
12:09 pm
George……..poorly said!!!!!
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
12:12 pm
Did I read this correctly? A Gator calling UGa a “thug culture”……that is amusing, very amusing.
GFJacket
July 22nd, 2012
12:18 pm
kingdaddy, UGA has a recruiting advantage like noone else in the SEC. It routinely has top-10 classes, yet has no NCs to show for it since 1980. Meanwhile, Tech, Bama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee seem to be able to garner their talent to win a NC – - some multiple times. Couple that with the continuing loss of highly heralded talent, and you have the recipe for criticism and derision.
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
12:20 pm
GF Jacket,
Correct, but we do keep our conference championships, our coaches aren’t charged with assault, we don’t obstruct NCAA investigations, etc. Just a thought for you to chew on.
SSIgator
July 22nd, 2012
12:25 pm
Neutral -
Hmmm, I am pretty sure the article is about Richt @ UGA. Let’s see:
“Richt’s problem isn’t discipline or risky recruiting, it’s perception”
Yeah, I was correct. It is about Richt @ UGA. Nice try though.
Neutral
July 22nd, 2012
12:27 pm
Have you ever commented about King Urban and his sleazy legacy?
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
12:32 pm
GFJacket
Did you read what I wrote about outside fans coming into a UGA blog to only criticize our program. I don’t do it because I don’t care about their problems. What makes you comment about UGA? Jealousy, hate, spite, or is it because you are concerned about us, lol…Think about it next time you want to post about this proud University. We care wheather you do or not…
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
12:33 pm
There are a minimum number of top students. There are even less top students capable of playing at this level. Of the very few blue chip athletes with 4.0+ gpas, only a handful exhibit the type of character that some seem to suggest for a benchmark (an unquantifiable, intangible quality I might add). 150 D1 schools are recruiting that very small percentage of the handful of blue chip athletes. It is mathematically impossible to field an entire team of well-behaved, excellent students with the athletic ability to compete at this level. Boo to the high-risk recruit hypothesis.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
12:34 pm
Neutral
How can he? He’s too busy making negative post about UGA on the JUNKYARD BLAWG, LOL…
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Additionally, we are taking a bunch of kids (17-23 year olds) many who are from dysfunctional family situations and underserved, impoverished communities and dropping them into an environment with 20-40,000 other kids away from home for the first time, an environment that is full of bars and parties.
We all cheer when UGA is rated #1 party school. We all jeer when the athletes participate in the party.
SSIgator
July 22nd, 2012
12:39 pm
Neutral -
“Have you ever commented about King Urban and his sleazy legacy?”
I don’t believe Bill King has written an article about Urban Meyer, but if and when he does I will comment on it.
GFJacket
July 22nd, 2012
12:39 pm
kingdaddy, are you asking Bill King to ban all us non-UGA fans??? Do we hurt your feelings with our postings? Sorry…
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
12:44 pm
What turns my stomach are the racist rubes and country clubbers who attribute this behavior to race. What have these guys done that Bubba junior at the SAE, TKE, Kapa Alpah, Phi, or Chi houses are doing? When Bubba jr. gets popped for drinking underage, DUI, public intoxication, or brawling, he’s just sewing wild oats or he just caught up with the wrong crew. Why do so many of these rednecks immediately call a black athlete a ‘thug’ who participates in the same behavior? It is that Ol’ South private pool mentality that costs UGA recruits to Alabama, UT, SC and UF.
GFJacket
July 22nd, 2012
12:44 pm
nope, Neutral, you don’t tell your coaches to prepare for a bowl game without a key player – - thus inviting the wrath of the NCAA for “non-compliance”. Instead, you hold a press conference and tell everyone about the player’s trangressions. Tech can learn one thing from UGA – - how to get around NCAA directions without directly disobeying them. Tech’s AD could also learn some things from UGA AD’s, but I’m pretty sure he would decline….
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
12:49 pm
Here’s a question: Would you rather have kids with high talent and questionable character, or kids with high character and questionable talent???
Unless you can get the Governor to call off the Athens Po-Pos and the new President of UGA to mute disiplinary actions like some of these schools we are competing with that have won an N.C…
Some of these schools insulate their players from disiplinary actions and everyone knows it. It’$ ju$t a wink and a nod, lol…
GFJacket
July 22nd, 2012
12:54 pm
Good point. Until UGA changes its discipline policy, it will continue to have these problems going after the same pool of athletes as the rest of the SEC. Perhaps it is time for UGA to change the athletes it targets. It’s not academics. UGA has enough Turfgrass Management degrees to offer just about any academically challenged blue chipper.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Jacket
I’m not into censorship. I never calked for it so don’t put words in my mouth. I wonder you feel the need to come on this blog crying like a baby with every breath about UGA. If you can’t understand what you read on the post, maybe you should take up coloring-books…
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
12:59 pm
I wonder what national media exposure, thousands of people kissing my arse, and shadowy figures on the fringes talking millions of dollars in the not too distant future would have done to my ego at the tender age of 18. I went nutso at UGA and got kicked out without having that kind of pressure, attention and workload.
BTW: I made good on my second chance like many of these athletes will. I have two graduate degrees, although you couldn’t tell it from all the typos in my recent posts, and I am gainfully employed and love my career. I also don’t drink anymore. It was a hard lesson that I had to learn the hard way. I will give the same belief and opportunity to these athletes that I gave myself.
I hope Ealey, Crowell, King, and others make good on their second chances. I hope these players learn something from their mistakes and from the disciplinary actions. I hope the team I’ve pulled for my whole life has a stellar season and these young men go on to do great things with their lives.
Before you question the ability of these young men to reach their fullest potential, perhaps you should question your own. I for one still have a lot of work to do.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
1:04 pm
I would rather have the kids with high character and grades. Kids with heart and ones who bleed Red & Black over immature prima-donnas who only care about themselves. How can we find more Richard Samuels and MMs. Our coaches have to work harder to find and mold these kids into football players. They are already winners, just what UGA needs…
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
1:06 pm
Chazzo
Nice post…
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
1:16 pm
SSI Gator, your post is hilarious about the “thug culture” legacy of Richt. I lived in Florida my whole life. That dirty little hole called Gainesville is a drug haven, Jack. And the football team there has always, always, ALWAYS participated in the same behaviors as the schools you list. You could make the same statements about the ol’ musty ball coach, Spurrier or that slimy weasel, Meyer. Do I need to remind you of the gun charges and credit card rip off scandals at UF. What about ol’ Zooker rounding up players in the middle of the night to go fight at a frat house? Do I even have to go back to the Pell/Hall years when your team was illegally taping other teams practices and stealing playbooks and still couldn’t beat the Dawgs? LOL
They don’t call it Gainesville Green for nothing. Get off your high horse, and either stop taking drugs or start taking them to deal with your delusional view of the world.
Jacket99
July 22nd, 2012
1:17 pm
Ringleader
July 22nd, 2012
10:02 am
At least we are not Penn State.
——————————–
For this, we should all be thankful. I think most fans and coaches want players who will bring their dinner bucket to the classroom and to the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqWfyAfaFZI
SUN TAN AVENGER
July 22nd, 2012
1:43 pm
The AD said some time back that he saw no need to announce suspensions. Think about it, if Big Mo doesn’t know for sure that Rambo and Smith aren’t going to play maybe they practice differently and have a different game plan. If they are suspended I want their staff wasting time game planning for them, if they play so much the better. Whatever doubt you put in your opponents head is a plus.
harold
July 22nd, 2012
1:47 pm
UGA IS KNOWN AS THE NEW MIAMI. ANY ARRESTS IN ATHENS TODAY?
Mr. Hankey
July 22nd, 2012
1:53 pm
Kudos to the guy up there who said please don’t forget Green’s backup and former Falcon. Talk about a DGD. Maybe the same thing will happen for Samuel. I’d love the see the Falcons take a flier on this guy just for his athleticism and comportment. Totally ready for football but not happy about the secpond home game against pooschway tech or whoever they starting at 7:30 as I have a Falcons game the next day and tailgating starts at 8:30 a.m. Heck, my last beer from the night before will still be cold when I wake up Sund. a.m.
@George
July 22nd, 2012
1:56 pm
The perception is that Chizik has a lot more discipline problems in the short time that he’s been there than Tubberville ever had. Not to mention Cam-gate. So it is fair to point out
Old Dog Class of 80
July 22nd, 2012
2:13 pm
This is one area in which the NCAA should step up and establish uniform rules. It is unfair to have students playing for the competition when they would be ineligible under our program. It puts pressure on us to relax our discipline policy to be “oranges to oranges” to the other programs.
Old Dog Class of 80
July 22nd, 2012
2:16 pm
My question is why ANY college should keep ANY athlete that fails EVEN ONE drug test?
chazzo
July 22nd, 2012
2:33 pm
Old Dog,
I agree with you, and I question the legality of a system that accepts and condones drug use. Of course, it is somewhat of a legal grey area to submit these kids to testing also.
I don’t have an answer. I will say that the guys playing ball in the late seventies (your era) were definitely not squeaky clean. Think about what was going on the culture at large back then.
I will say this, although I am no way including you or accusing of the racist posts and comments I run across, the first black player started playing ball at UGA in 73. When I was there in 84/85 the racial distinction and tension was palpable. There is definitely a group of fans with a double standard for behavior when it comes to black players and white players.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
3:04 pm
As someone who had to take drug-screens for his job, I was aware of many cases of abuse. Unless the people who instituted the drug policy are serious, the drug screen is a joke and easy to circumvent. The same people that ask or tell you to take a drug screen can and sometimes do turn their head, allowing “certain athletes” to cheat the drug screen. Many ways to do this. Why institute the policy in the first place unless you’re serious? It’$ the perception of doing something without really doing it. Cheating to win should never be acceptable at UGA! Not even to compete for an N.C., even if others do it. Eventually they all get caught and it embarrasses the programs. All we have is our honor and integrity. They can’t take that away from us, but we can give it away rather easily…
Grantham's the Man
July 22nd, 2012
3:22 pm
Spot on about Richt’s so called discipline problem. The only problem that Richt has with Discipline is he’s the only SEC coach who is discipling his players.
Every other SEC coach is sweeping almost everything under the rug and letting the players get away with it.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
3:31 pm
Gs the Man
Everybody knows its true, but most of the trolls will act like they don’t know what you’re talking about, lol…
Ghost
July 22nd, 2012
4:05 pm
Its hilarious to hear a Gator talking about multiple arrest.Georgias had 3 arrests since Dec 2010 , how many have Florida, Auburn, Tenn, LSu etc had?Floridas had 11 arrested since WM arrived.
Know them
July 22nd, 2012
4:34 pm
It’s funny to me when bloggers mention players they wish for others teammates. You don’t know them personally and asking teammates to be like someone who’s real twitter says “if it ain’t about money…etc”. That’s not team that’s self, which works at UGA. Also, it’s funny when someone can be considered adult. 18 is a legal adult. Someone can be 50 and still act like a child. As I said on another post don’t assume you know any of them. Some know how to say what you want to hear on interviews.
6-18 Against End of Season Ranked Teams Since '05
July 22nd, 2012
4:54 pm
“Richt’s problem isn’t discipline or risky recruiting, it’s perception”
Wrong Bill, perception is not the problem. Richt’s problem is having a 0.333 winning percentage against end of season ranked teams since the ‘05 season……and oh btw, never winning the MNC also hurts him a bit too
…and before the haters/deniers/Richt-lovers come out….I am a UGA alum and fan!!!
tony
July 22nd, 2012
5:33 pm
Missouri chose Gary Pinkel over Mark Richt.
Richt on Thursday at SEC media days graciously put it thusly:
“I did get the opportunity to interview for the Missouri job the same season that I ended up taking the Georgia job; I think Missouri found their man in Gary Pinkel. It wasn’t a decision that I turned down Missouri. It was a decision that Missouri believed Coach Pinkel was the best man for the job.
AAAAA Athens Bail Bonds R Us
July 22nd, 2012
6:19 pm
Any more UGA players arrested today?
Georgia Poetaster
July 22nd, 2012
6:43 pm
Who is suspended
And who will play
We’d all like to know
Why Richt won’t say
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
7:42 pm
Poetaster
You write more in the style of Dr. Seuss “Green Egg’s and Ham” , than “The Raven”
Georgia Poetaster
July 22nd, 2012
8:13 pm
“Poetaster You write more in the style of Dr. Seuss “Green Egg’s and Ham” , than “The Raven””
Thank you very much. That’s the nicest compliment I’ve had in a long time. As a struggling young poet, kind words of encouragement are always welcome.
Old Dog Class of 80
July 22nd, 2012
8:47 pm
“agree with you, and I question the legality of a system that accepts and condones drug use. Of course, it is somewhat of a legal grey area to submit these kids to testing also.”
I disagree about the “legal grey area”. At our work we have a pre-employment drug screen, post-accident drug screening, and random drug screening. Being drug-free is a condition of employment as well as taking drug tests. Failing or even refusing to take a drug test is grounds for immediate dismissal. These have not been successfully challenged to my knowledge.
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
8:53 pm
Bill,
Wow, terrific article, about Richard Samuel, even though he averaged less than 3 yards a carry, I agree, since he’s a team player, and nice young man, he should get more reps than thre 5 yard per carry backs like Richt always does, we remember how Samuel got more carries than 4.95 yasrds per carry Carlton Thomas of course.
Back 1: 2.9 ypc
Back 2: 4.95 ypc
Which one gets more carries at UGA?
Back 1.
Wow, we are really smart for doing it this way, Richt is a really smart man.
Reality Dawg
July 22nd, 2012
8:54 pm
UGA doesn’t have the “win at all costs” mentality of Alabama and LSU. UT used to have it, but that went away when Fulmer left. Richt is doing great with the kids he brings in for the most part. I know, I’ve spoken with many of them at various functions. Our problem is on game day, not in recruiting. Game day execution and matching wits with the best coaches in college football. That is one tough job. It’s also where your assistant coaches get the job done or otherwise show they are not SEC material. I’ll stop here.
Reality Dawg
July 22nd, 2012
8:57 pm
UGAHomer, stats are for losers. Carlton Thomas got those yards against whom? What should be measured is what average YPC was against SEC competition, Tech, Boise and Mich State. Games with tams like Buffalo, Fla Atlantic and GA Southern stats should not be factored in.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
9:07 pm
Mr. Poetaster
LOL, very funny my friend. Good Luck…
BTW, there’s always comedy…
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
9:09 pm
Oh yeah, wow, that Richard Samuel, 4 td’s in 3 years at running back, wow, what a back! Sensational production! And L-O-V-E that 2.9 yards per carry!!!!! Such a team first, little me guy!!!!! Sic em’.
HalfEmpty
July 22nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Bill, “Richt’s problem isn’t discipline”, seriously? You’ve got to be kidding.
Richt looks the other way when Stafford & Murray both get photo’d in possession of alcohol, UNDER the legal age, and Richt doesn’t even suspend them, neither even miss a down, because both happened the week before the rival Florida game?
UGA has become a laughing stock for the way Mark Richt deals with his favorites. Ogletree has either been busted for theft or drug use every season and he’s still on the team,
Smell the coffee, it’s brewing. Wake up Bill.
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
9:28 pm
I love the way Richt makes his choices.
Back A, in the Auburn game, gets 8.5 yards per carry
Back B, in the Auburn game, gets 5.5 yards per carry
So, Richt, being the offensive genius he is, gives the back averaging 5.5 yards per carry 25 carries, and the back averaging 8.5 yards per carry 15 carries.
No, it wasn’t because Richt ENTITLED Crowell.
THERE IS NO SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT AT GEORGIA. THAT’S A FALSE RUMOR.
The Auburn game proves it!!!
Woof!
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
9:33 pm
I get tired of people trying to say Richt has created a CULTURE OF ENTITLEMENT at Georgia.
This is NOT TRUE!!!
Back A averages 4.95 yards per carry for the season
Back B averages 2.9 yards per carry for the season
Back be got the most carries because Richt is FAIR and does NOT ENTITLE ANY PLAYERS.
Sic em!!!!
AltamahaDawg
July 22nd, 2012
10:04 pm
Thats a bit of a false choice Bill. Obviously folks would rather pay to see us play OSU, rather than FAU or NTU. If it’s that simple. But it’s coupled with a return trip and one less home game.. The choise is really: do you want to pay to see both FAU and NTU or just OSU?
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
July 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
Yeah, it’s perception, and you have a chance to win a championship! HA!
Say what you want to Dawg Fans
July 22nd, 2012
10:29 pm
Any player in his right mind would rather sit down in front of Mark Richt and tell him they screwed up instead of telling Nick Saban. Yes Saban recruited Crowell but he played for Richt, got slapped on the hand for his antics and would not even seen the field and maybe matured if he played for Bama.
Jump31
July 22nd, 2012
11:09 pm
Going after these top 100 type of players, is NOT WORTH THE RISK.
The research proves, a team chock full of 3, 4, and 5 star recruits, doesn’t have any relationship to the percentage of games teams will win. Winthrop Intelligence did a huge study to prove that out.
This is why teams like Boise beat teams like Georgia. They go for good men first, then look at how these guys fit their unique system, and then they have coaches who can DEVELOP that talent.
A team full of 1, 2 and 3 star recruits, has a chip, and is out to prove everybody wrong. And if you go for character first, you’ll have excellent team chemistry, as your program will stay clean.
AngryDawg
July 23rd, 2012
7:15 am
the dawgs are tired of all this disrespect from the media—look for early blowout wins over missouri and tennessee, another easy win over florida and an upset win over south carolina! Dawgs win the east and this time beat lsu for the title! The dogs D–best in the SEC!!!!!!
Tman
July 23rd, 2012
8:12 am
It’s Obama’s fault before he was president, athletes behaved and were accountable.
Tman
July 23rd, 2012
8:14 am
Before Obama , athletes were accountable and UGA was a good football team. Affordable Health Insurance will be the downfall of this team
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
8:18 am
whiskey
You don’t know anything about richt other than what you read on a message board so why don’t you just shut your pathetic drunk piehole??????????
Whiskey Breath
July 23rd, 2012
8:19 am
Bill you are the best AJC, but you need to change your name to ” Bill the biggest homer:.
What does CMR have on you? You know right from wrong.
AAAAA Athens Bail Bonds R Us
July 23rd, 2012
8:42 am
Any more dawgs arrested today?
CubanDawg
July 23rd, 2012
8:47 am
@50 arrests in four years, you continue to call Richt a liar yet you’re the one that lies on every post by the handle you so proudly use “50 arrests in four years”. Please do us all a favor and list the name of the 50 UGA players that have been arrested in the last 4 years or change your handle. LIAR!!! Better yet go away little bug!
NextHerschel
July 23rd, 2012
8:59 am
Herschel got 5.27 yards per carry and averaged a td every 20 carries.
Knowshon Moreno beat that, so did Ealey.
Not hard to find the next Herschel Walker.
There are plenty of backs who can beat 5.27, and a 1 to 20 td to carry ratio.
i-185
July 23rd, 2012
9:06 am
I wonder how Isaiah’s bulldog is gettin along?
NextHerschel
July 23rd, 2012
9:06 am
Wisconsin’s Montee Ball, got 33 td’s, on @300 carries, better than a 10 to 1 td to carry rate, and averaged over 6 yards per carry.
Just blew Herschel Walker away.
Ace
July 23rd, 2012
9:20 am
Year in, year out players with troubles, and the reason remains. Expect more.
Columbus Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
9:31 am
Ball did it in the Big Ten, Walker did it in the SEC. No comparison.
Columbus Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
9:38 am
Georgia does not have to have a Hershel Walker to produce an adequate running game. Boo and Richard will get tough yards. Samuel was a man possessed in the Florida game before his injury, and he blew everyone away late in the G Day game when he made the surprise appearance. Marshall will take full advantage of his opportunity. Run game won’t be a problem in 2012. I do believe that Murray will take next step this season as well, must fix special teams in fall camp. Otherwise, things are looking up. Everyone needs to chill on the Missouri game, they don’t have the D or the run game to compete. Laugh if you want, but Vandy will be as tough or tougher defensively than Mizzou.
Old Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
10:00 am
Like an earlier post stated, Zach Witchett wasn’t signed by UGA because of off the field issues.
And Darth Visor let Garcia get away with far more serious issues without game suspensions than UGA would allow.
Every school has problems, whether they are reported or not is another issue.
I wish other schools would “man up” and admit their athletes do the same things and are handled with kid gloves.
Let the REAL games begin!
GATiger
July 23rd, 2012
10:01 am
I can appreciate that misery loves company, but don’t be so quick to compare Georgia to LSU in the area of student athlete discipline. We haven’t had nearly the number of problems as UGA over the past 10 years. Richt has toughened his approach to disciplinary matters a little recently because he’s had to.
NextHerschel
July 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
Alabama had 3 running backs that averaged better than Herschel Walker’s career 5.27 yards per carry.
LSU also had 3 better than 5.27 ypc.
Florida had 2 last year better than 5.27.
Not very hard to do in the SEC.
UGA Insider
July 23rd, 2012
10:28 am
The main problem with UGA is something that no one wants to talk about… It’s the Athens Police Dept who constantly target and harass our football players. The APD have done this for years and are corrupt in my opinion. I am told that undercover officers watch the team often. Our problem at UGA is the APD in my opinion.
Tide Rising
July 23rd, 2012
11:03 am
UGA Insider,
Your players aren’t targeted anymore than anyone else. We had the same thing in Tuscaloosa before Saban’s arrival and during Saban’s first year. The newspaper even did a couple of articles on whether or not the Tuscaloosa PD was singling out Bama players because 7 players had been arrested in Saban’s first year and a half. The theory that players were targeted was bolstered when one of the players was arrested at a bar for brawling. The video evidence from the bar he was at proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was innocent of being in a bar brawl and the police had to drop charges.
The point is that there was no police persecution of players. The truth was that there was a lack of discipline and a lack of fear of consequences going on in our football program that dated to the Shula days. It took Saban a year and a half to get rid of the bad apples and instill his brand of discipline but since then we’ve averaged something like 1 arrest per year. I can’t even remember the last time we had an active player on the roster arrested. I think it was 2 years ago. Dre Kirkpatrick got arrested for pot but that was after he had gone pro and left Bama. A transfer Aaron Douglass was arrested for DUI but that was before he enrolled at Bama.
Its not about police conspiracies and singling out football players. Its about the coach instilling a sense of serious discipline, standards of behavior, and the expectations of real consequences if you screw up and end up embarrassing the university with an arrest.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
July 23rd, 2012
11:08 am
We agree, how many “deadlocks” on BYU, Boise State, Utah and Utah State. BYU and Boise win games with 2 and 3 star recruits. You won’t fine many thugs on these teams.
UGA fan...not fanatic
July 23rd, 2012
11:13 am
Can the NCAA go back to 81 on Penn St.? Didn’t they beat the Dawgs? Can we have that win and argue that we should get another NC??? lol
Columbus Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
11:13 am
Tide Rising, from your comments, it is not hard to see that you worship at Saban’s crotch. The police dept. at Bama has since been put on notice to leave players alone by Saban. I have never in my life seen a bunch of idol seekers as Bama fans are today, probably unlike anything seen since Paul Bryant was coach over there. Anyone who is not a Bama fan that knows Saban’s cheating history knows the story on that little pos. What a bunch of blithering idiots.
UGA fan...not fanatic
July 23rd, 2012
11:15 am
make that 1982-83
Dawg Fud
July 23rd, 2012
11:23 am
Fredildo,
Get a life.
Will
July 23rd, 2012
11:33 am
The same kids are being recruited by all of the schools. The kids being are the only common variable. Where the biggest differences can be found is among the coaching staffs at each school. What do you think is causing UGA to have such different results than the other schools? Bad luck on the draw with the recruits? Or is it more likely that the results are not determined until after the kids get to school and start being handled by the individual coaching staffs?
WDE
July 23rd, 2012
11:43 am
@Tide Rising sorry I’m confused you said that a Bama player was accused of brawling but video showed he wasn’t , but then you say there was no police bias just poor discipline ? Sorry you lost me if the cops were incorrectly charging Bama players seems that would indicate bias.
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
12:06 pm
So Dre Kirkpatrick never smoked weed in T-Town but all of a sudden started once he got to Florida?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is why we laugh at you Bamatards
The difference is.....
July 23rd, 2012
12:06 pm
CMR suspends his players…..DON’T suspend them and win jackwagon! He ain’t their daddy, we pay you to win crystal, not go 8-4 with good moral feeling.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
12:14 pm
Jump 31, while I appreciate what you wrote about star potential not making teams, I don’t think pinning that as the reason BSU beat the dawgs is accurate. i do think Boise should be commended for teamwork and fundamental; they are a well-coached bunch. We have to take into consideration, though, that a bunch of young, patched-together Dawgs with a relatively new QB and D scheme played a bunch of seniors who had been playing together for a while.
The Dawgs weren’t prepared for that game. One can make a lot of arguments as to why. I don’t think boise having less highly touted recruits is necessarily a solid or isolated reason, although your point is well taken.
NC_Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:17 pm
As Richt reminded reporters, coaches are limited in the amount of contact they can have during recruiting and do the best they can to root out character flaws in advance. But they’re not able to peer into the future and see how an 18-year-old will react to the freedoms and temptations that come with attending a large university in a hard-partying town like Athens — particularly kids who’ve gotten the star treatment and been coddled and enabled throughout high school to the point that many don’t think everyday rules apply to them or don’t expect to be held accountable.
While access to these kids is limited, access to their coaches, teachers and teammates are not. Maybe CMR needs to do a better job on finding out what the people that know these kids the best have to say about them. I heard rumors about Wahaun Ealey being a bad teammate before he ever came to UGA. If your HS teammates don’t like you, how do you think that translates to college? If you have disciplinary problems in HS, how does that translate to college? If you take yourself out of the game in HS, how does that translate to college.
I know you have to take chances on some recruits and hope you can coach them up, but a bad egg ia a bad egg.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
12:35 pm
I don’t know Mark Richt. I haven’t had personal conversations about his faith or spirituality. I, like the vast majority of people have nothing but circumstantial evidence to form such an opinion.
That being said, flying down to central america to do mission work seems a fairly extreme measure just to appear to be a Christian. “Fake Christians” don’t tend to do such things.
I am more of an existentialist myself. I am not defending Christianity or Richt’s beliefs. I’m just pointing out that there are a lot of accusations based on very little actual knowledge.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
12:36 pm
PS. That’s our culture, though, just talk crap people and get other schmucks to run around repeating it.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:47 pm
I think Athens, Ga. has as large of a per capita police presense as any county in the state .#1 or #2 it used to be I think they are not likely to cut any football players, or college student any break whatsoever. So there is a greater odds that events occur. Thats a pretty simple conclusion.
But as far as corrupt……currupt in what way? Currupt on behalf of whom? You are saying that you believe they are doing something unethical or improper because they are receiving some personal benifit from it?
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
Blaming the cops for Crowell is stupid
i have been to Athens 3 times over the last 12 months, usually arriving at midnight or later.
All 3 times i encountered a police roadblock with license check
If you go to school there, shouldn’t you realize that if you are out a 2 am, you will most likely encounter one?
All the hard work and minding his elders that Crowell was doing(according to Jarvis Jones) got blown out to sea by him being stupid
Don’t blame the cops
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:57 pm
I would agree with tide rising that a coordinated police conspiracy is probably a stretch. But its foolish to think that its all just a matter of a HC cleaning it up either. Look at a place such as Ole’ Miss, or any number of schools that have gone through a number of coaches. Ae you suggesting that every coach that they hired just happen to have the same philosophy of “discipline”? Because I am certain that they drink and drive poorly in Oxford Miss too, and I dont rememebr a bunch of bad publicity in the papers. So clearly there IS some factor other than having a cult worshiped coach in place.
And as I have said in the past, as far as public perception, a “suspension” for missing a tutoring class, might as well be a felony gun charge, because it all gets lumped together. Obviously Georgia has more strict rules that do negatively affect the “perception” of trouble. Nobody cares about the irony.
GATiger
July 23rd, 2012
1:02 pm
UGA Insider, you are right on point with your comment about Athens PD. It’s not just athletes. It’s all students. Arresting students, especially for underage drinking, is probably the largest revenue stream they have. My daughter’s a student, and the number of kids she knows who have not been arrested is not a very big one. Thankfully, that includes her. The APD will follow kids to their dorm rooms, and, if they misstep, stop them and request a breathalizer test. There are many more serious stories that space here won’t permit. I can appreciate the need to enforce the law, and DUI is certainly another matter. But these are kids for whom the local bars turn a blind eye when it comes to admission and service, walking or taking a taxi back to their dorms or houses, and not creating a disturbance.
Ace
July 23rd, 2012
1:13 pm
Its the coaches.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
1:50 pm
What is it that they do, or do not do, in your opinion , Ace?
Chuck
July 23rd, 2012
2:26 pm
The problem is people thinking Richt has a discipline problem because he publically disciplines his players.
Talk about backward logic.
Look at Paterno, and the incident that got PSU’s compliance officer booted. There was an apartment brawl with multiple injuries and one student beaten uncoscious, caused by Nittany Lions going all target-dummy.
The compliance officer thought the player should have been held to the student code of conduct and the letter of the law. Joe-Pa didn’t think so, so no criminal charges, no code-of-conduct punishments – the players wound up serving the penalty Joe-Pa sought from the beginning:
- They cleaned up the stadium for two hours after each home game, and
- The PSU compliance officer was looking for a job not long afterwards.
And this from a program that has been compared MULTIPLE times to UGA “for doing it the right way.”
Turns out they were a LOT better at hiding player (and coach) wrong-doingg than they EVER were at actual punishment.
And if you thing there aren’t other programs, in the SEC alone, that have the football program driving the justice system – both in the school and outside of it – you are hopelessly naive.
southgadawg
July 23rd, 2012
2:33 pm
You dont have to worry about the Dawgs being on a 4year bowl ban losing mulitiple schollys and having 111 victories vacated. There conduct issues EVERYWHERE! UGA’s issues are usually minor in comparison.
Texas DAWG
July 23rd, 2012
3:02 pm
DIE Hard Dawg FAN but……….if you or anyone thinks we don’t have an issue at UGA you simply have your head in the sand………………NO OTHER TEAM have lost every starting tailback for what the last three seasons, four seasons????? LSU ’s starting QB….kicked off our team…..please open your eyes and look at how many of of our 4 star and 5 star players have either left or been kicked off the team…..yea…yea got it…other teams do lose players but UGA numbers should tell the average fan something is up………..I don’t blame anyone but something is going on?????I’m no recruiting expert or coaching expert……..but just imagine it was LSU…BAMA…Floridia ect…that lost had the same amount of players…..something ain’t right…..I couldn’t begin to explain how to solve the problem….but something is up??? Athens police target ball players….our drug policies to strict….CMR to tuff on them….don’t know but I’m suprized more sport casters have honed in on us.
McDawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:47 pm
remember the last time Rambo and Ogletree were out-Boise St dumped 5-7 yd passes over the middle alll night long
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:53 pm
Not picking on you Texas DAWG. Your concern is well placed. BUT Who has thier head in the sand? What I see is is a fairly detailed and lengthy discussion on the matter . Are you disagreing with any of that? No offense, but you say other folks have thier head in the sand for offering possible explainations, then offer up “something ain’t right”?
And LSU’s starting QB kicked off our team…..yea…..and? What point are you making there?
BTW, Alabama has had 2 dozen players transfer out or leave the team in the past couple of years, and I would suspect UF wasn’t that far behind.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:03 pm
Although I admit I dont know if that was exactly the “past 2 years”. Should have said” in a 2 yr period, recently.”
1cTide
July 23rd, 2012
4:12 pm
richt needs to call Nick on how to recruit players with character who stay out of trouble. Alabama never has problems with all these arrests like ga. RTR–going for title #15!!!
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:39 pm
Well, ignoring those players and grad assistant that got arrested in the past couple of years, that would be true.
ugab
July 23rd, 2012
4:41 pm
Guns at school cannot be allowed, I do not want Athens to end up like Colorado. I don’t know why any school would drug test after spring break. That is discriminating. lol. I hope the best for the Uga program.. Uga will keep losing games with these players being suspended every season. I would love to see a uga football season start with everyone not hurt or suspended.
to ugab
July 23rd, 2012
4:56 pm
You are aware that practically every one of the mass shootings over the past few years have taken place where no one in the crowd was armed. What if just 5% of the people in the Colorado incident had Concealed Carry permits and were packing that night? Look at Virginia Tech. It was like a shooting gallery for the killer, with no one able to shoot back.
In the Mississippi school shooting a number of years ago, the number of deaths was much less than it would have been if a faculty member had not gone to his pickup and got his weapon, resulting in the assailant surrendering.
@ lcTide
July 23rd, 2012
4:59 pm
Some people on here may think you are serious, but most of us saw the humor you were striving for.
Old Dog Class of 80
July 23rd, 2012
6:07 pm
“I don’t know why any school would drug test after spring break. That is discriminating. lol.”
I think we should drug test the entire student body after spring break.
Brainiac(Dawg/Richt fan for life)
July 23rd, 2012
6:21 pm
Bill:
I am elated over this article because it comes from someone very close to the program. Someone I respect!!!
You may remember last year when you wrote the article casting CTG in a negative light over the run-in he had with Vandy coach James Franklin. You booted me for a spell but I believe you had to agree, at least in part, of what I said. CTG was right to stand up for his player that was being personally confronted by Franklin. No HC has the right to personally pounce on another team’s player. I guess my biggest transgression in that matter was name-calling and 3 letter/4letter words.
I can find no part of this article that I don’t agree with and fully believe those that are disagreeing with you are either FOOLS, TROLLS, MENTALLY CHALLENGED. or too damn lazy to research for info/facts.
Thanks man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg/Richt fan for life)
July 23rd, 2012
6:31 pm
@ Texas Dawg:
You are dumb enough to be TRIPLETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just put a sock in it!!!!! This is a man’s blog and obviously you aren’t there yet mentally!!!!!!!!!
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
6:32 pm
ugab,
Guns at school are allowed. Unless they changed the law that was passed a couple of years back, students are allowed to keep guns secured in their vehicles in the state of GA. I believe it is so they can go hunting.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
6:33 pm
The above statement is not a defense for Crowell, merely a response to a post about guns at school.
Dawgnow
July 23rd, 2012
6:34 pm
players at other schools like alabama and florida are committing crimes but it all gets covered up to keep their players eligible. the ncaa needs to investigate these corrupt programs.
Brainiac(Dawg/Richt fan for life)
July 23rd, 2012
6:36 pm
@ southgadawg(2:33pm post):
Excellent post Bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too bad that some of the DFINO are too stupid to think for themselves rather than just bleating some of the same crap theysee/hear from the rest of their flock!!!!!!!
kingdaddy
July 23rd, 2012
6:52 pm
How many people here think that cops cover for other cops caught for multiple offenses, DWI, SPEEDIND, RECKLESS DRIVING, FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE list goes on and on. They cover for their brother. Maybe not all, but it happens everywhere. Its not a strech to think a cop wouldn’t cover for a major successful university or vice-versa…
Nick
July 23rd, 2012
7:13 pm
I wish Samuel’s runs were as big as his heart…
Tallydawg
July 23rd, 2012
7:40 pm
LSU’s offensive double threat in 2013: Crowell and Mettenberger. Groping teat and packing heat!
Mobile Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
9:27 pm
Well if it’s “just” perception, that should be pretty easily solved. Win some of the “big” games, and bring a championship home. That should “change” the perception.
Brainiac(Dawg/Richt fan for life)
July 23rd, 2012
9:55 pm
@ When I hear the word “cesspool” the only word that comes to mind is”FREDDO”
Brainiac(Dawg/Richt fan for life)
July 23rd, 2012
9:58 pm
@ Kingdaddy:
Only Saban and his ilk know for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kingdaddy
July 23rd, 2012
10:15 pm
Brain
One things for sure, it’s not just the SEC…
Say What???
July 23rd, 2012
11:09 pm
Bill,
Perception isn’t the problem at UGA.
Yes, you are correct in that Crowell (as well as most of the other athletes that UGA recruits) was recruited by a lot of other schools. The problem seems to lie with what the kids do when they GET to Athens. You can have a very tough policy on drug use, but it the rule (or the punishement) wouldn’t go into effect if the players stayed out of trouble to begin with.
People (outside of UGA fans) are pointing out the fact that so many players are getting into trouble…that’s a discipline problem any way you slice it.
Bill…you are nothing more than a spin-meister. I cannot believe that anybody would come to the AJC, read your article, and pretend that it’s journalism. I see where other UGA fans get their propoganda though.
AltamahaDawg
July 24th, 2012
8:02 am
Well, in an odd way, Say Whatt?? is correct. The problem is not that the perception is different because doing the exact same thing is only an considered “in trouble” at schools that chose to have tougher policies, like Georgia. The problem is that doing the exact same thing at Georgia, that kids do at other schools, is known to be reported as trouble here, and yet, occationally our kids still choose to do it.
AltamahaDawg
July 24th, 2012
8:11 am
Mobile, your take is that there could be the exact same issues with kids getting into trouble, but that is nothing that winning more game wouldn’t erase?
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
July 24th, 2012
8:35 am
Perception…man you UGA guys are good at excuses.
Chuck
July 24th, 2012
8:57 am
Yeah right, Saban has found a way to keep guys from smoking weed.
He really should share this miracle with the world, if not he’s being very selfish.
DP
July 24th, 2012
8:58 am
Yeah, it’s just a perception problem and Athens is the most heavily policed college town in the country. That’s why when you Google “Georgia football player…” the second and third things that Google pops up to fill in the rest of your search are “arrested” and “suspended”. It’s just a perception problem. And all that undisciplined play on the field has nothing to do with anything either, that’s a vendetta the SEC officials have been carrying against Georgia since Richt had the whole team charge into the end zone after they scored the first touchdown against Florida that time.
Bill King conveniently talks about other coaches who recruited the players that got booted from Georgia without even mentioning the possibility that there might be a difference in how they’re handled once in the program, i.e. are there high expectations or are star players coddled like they were in high school? It is easy to infer from the accounts of his own teammates that Crowell showed up out of shape and didn’t work as hard as he should. And everybody saw him take himself out of games every time he got nicked. But Richt had already showed Crowell the empty backfield when recruiting him and was behind the 8 ball when it came to SEC caliber tailbacks, so Crowell was handed his job. Crowell really respected Richt for it, which is why he turned his back on Richt and walked away when Richt was talking to him on the sidelines.
While it is unlikely Crowell would have panned out any better in Tuscaloosa, I think it’s a pretty sure bet that had he arrived there out of shape and not worked any harder than he did in Athens, he’d have been redshirted and then run off.
Chuck
July 24th, 2012
8:59 am
“Say What??” – maybe if your school had the testicular fortitude to suspend on the first positive drug test (or even test??) you’d have a leg to stand on.
Until then, your program is just not acknowledging their own problem for the sake of winning games.
DP
July 24th, 2012
9:06 am
In addition to Richt’s coddling, and probably in large part because of Richt’s coddling, Georgia is failing to develop the internal leadership. Star high school credentials or not, there should have been some juniors and seniors kicking Crowell’s behind last year and there obviously weren’t. Cut to this summer and you have 3 incoming freshmen riding around Athens with Crowell, learning from him.
DP
July 24th, 2012
9:09 am
Bill, what does it do for discipline, work ethic and morale on the rest of the team when everybody sees a guy handed a position based strictly on talent even though he is out of shape, lazy and undisciplined? That’s just a perception problem, right?
KingDog
July 24th, 2012
10:00 am
they smoke just as much weed in tuscaloosa as athens. in tuscaloosa, the police cover it all up.
AltamahaDawg
July 24th, 2012
10:29 am
DP, you just MADE Bill”s point. Everything you just said was based purely on your own personal opinion, backed up by conjecture. What exactly do you think the term “perception” means?
DP
July 24th, 2012
11:00 am
AltamahaDawg, your track record of IDIOCY remains intact. Bill King notes in his latest column pining for Penn State players that Georgia has fewer players on scholarship than USC which is on probation. But on the other hand, it’s all just a perception problem.
And you people wonder why the rest of the world laughs at Dawg Nation, the most delusional fan base in college football as noted by Stewart Mandel of SI.
AltamahaDawg
July 24th, 2012
11:14 am
What did I say that was wrong?
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
July 24th, 2012
11:28 am
KingDog
July 24th, 2012
10:00 am
they smoke just as much weed in tuscaloosa as athens. in tuscaloosa, the police cover it all up.
This is UGA football!
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
July 24th, 2012
11:28 am
Excuses, excuses, and more excuses!
DP
July 24th, 2012
11:55 am
AltamahaDelusionalDawg, you said that everything I said was conjecture and opinion and I MADE Bill King’s point.
Is it conjecture and opinion that Mark Richt recruited Isaah Crowell with the empty backfield stunt and was pretty desperate for a top running back recruit?
Is it conjecture and opinion that Isaah Crowell was out of shape (relative to the expectations for an SEC running back) when he reported to UGA and that he didn’t work as hard as he could have and should have? Other UGA players are the ones who made those type of comments about Crowell this spring when he supposedly had seen the light and changed his ways. Were they lying?
Is it conjecture and opinion that after having finally booted the 2 prior multiple offenders at running back King and Ealey that Mark Richt lacked viable SEC quality running back alternatives to Crowell, as evidenced by converting a previously failed running back (Richard Samuel) back from linebacker to running back and running a 5′7″ 150 pound scatback (Carlton Thomas) between the tackles, and that this made it difficult for him to bench Crowell to teach him a lesson?
Is it conjecture and opinion that Crowell turned his back and walked away from Mark Richt while Richt was trying to talk to him on the sidelines, or did we all see that on our TV screens?
Is it conjecture and opinion that when Crowell was arrested with a gun under the driver’s seat he had 3 incoming Georgia freshman football players in the car with him?
AltamahaDawg
July 24th, 2012
12:19 pm
Nice try morphing the argument. The conjucture is not the events, but the conclusions that you draw from those to form purely personal opinions as to the topic. Otherwise known as perception.
Texas DAWG
July 24th, 2012
5:18 pm
@ Brainiac…….real smart post….really shows how much of a brainiac you are…real balls sitting behind a computer! Tell your mama I enjoyed last night!
@AltmahaDawg…….you say Alabama has had all these players kicked off the team…….alot of teams dismiss players……not my issue if you read my post….my issue is or even better let me ask you this…..what if Alabama since you brought them into the discussion had kicked the starting tailback off the team the last four or five seasons like we have……..ask yourself that question……look at who thier starting tailback have been…..Saban usually kicks guys off that don’t contribute…….maybe we have had a bad run of luck……I just don’t like the fact as a Dawg fan we keep loosing all these players…..and I echo my point….something ain’t right
AltamahaDawg
July 25th, 2012
8:35 am
Well who does like it? Who remotely said anything about it being a good thing. Would we be having such a detailed discussion about the whys and the hows if it were no biggie?
I just questioned your post because you were pointing out the non-existant folks have thier head in the sand. I’m guessing you just never read the actual discussion to say that.
And I didnt bring Alabama into the discussion, you did. I just responded to your comment: “imagine if (they) had lost that many player….why imagine? they have, give or take.
And now you got us up to 5 seasons in a row dismissing our “starting” TB, huh?
Texas DAWG
July 25th, 2012
1:58 pm
Name on team…one that has lost the starting three “starting” tailbacks (King, Ealey, Crowell) and one that got alot of playing (Thomas) and two 4 star recruits in the last four seasons. I’m talking one postion………..I’m not talking about players that never even set one foot on the field being kicked off a team I’m not saying that other teams don’t kick players what I am saying if you can read….. is that based off the numbers we have had an issue at tailback…….hope the issue is mute after this season! Crowell looked really good when healthy….hoope marshall and gurley have his talent without all the problem issues!
Texas DAWG
July 25th, 2012
2:08 pm
and by the way….din’t bring bama into the discussion……don’t know where you got the impression that I was saying any of theses issue are a “good thing”?
The statement about havining your head in the sand is based off Dawg fans thinking the issue is with everyone else….police target players….everyone else recruits the same guys…ect…ect….but yet based off the data…..the numbers….and numbers don’t lie……………….something ain’t righ……………..t when it comes to the issue of tailbacks at UGA…………..hope it’s water under the bridge…….GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
July 26th, 2012
8:38 am
It just struck me odd to out some folks for “sticking thier head in the sand”, when they offer a multitude of factors that helps put thing into perspective, but yet NOT be able to disagree with thier points on merit.
AltamahaDawg
July 26th, 2012
8:48 am
And I realize NOW you are narrowing the debate to only TB, BUT you origially were talking about the number of player across the board. You specifically brought up Mett. and ” how many of of our 4 star and 5 star players have either left or been kicked off the team”. Thats a much larger indictment that just the oddity of the TB position.
“but just imagine it was LSU…BAMA…Floridia ect…that lost had the same amount of players”
Don’t tell me I brought Alabama into the discussion, when I simply pointed out that 2 of the teams that YOU named have lost (almost) that “same amount of players”.